"How is Che’er?"
"In response to the Emperor, Panpan came today. Che’er had a joyful time playing with Panpan, drank some soup and porridge in the evening, and his health has slightly improved."
"That’s good, make sure to take good care of him."
The Emperor recalled the chubby little girl.
"Give her a waist token, allowing her to enter the palace anytime to play with Che’er."
If she wasn’t too young, the Emperor wouldn’t mind appointing her as a secondary consort for Che’er early on.
Those who can become an emperor understand the implications clearly.
Some people who can lend you a helping hand must be tightly held onto, lest they slip away unnoticed.
It is obvious that the little girl is destined to be a person of prosperity for Che’er.
Che’er is his first and, so far, only son.
He’s always been frail, and at times, the Emperor considered giving up.
However, he was grateful that he didn’t give up over the years, otherwise, he wouldn’t have a son now.
As the third brother said, eventually the throne would fall to the offshoots.
This sickly son cannot be despised; he is the lifeblood of Great Xia!
"Your Majesty..."
Giving Panpan a token to enter the palace at any time was somewhat unexpected for the Empress.
At most, she just had Xiao Chunyu and her son brought into the palace, yet the Emperor made such a grand gesture upon his arrival.
This child seems to be more favored than her father, the General.
"She’s just a child with no other intentions. If Che’er enjoys playing with her, let her accompany him often in the palace."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Though surprised, the Empress was happy for her son, realizing that the Emperor cared about him since he valued the people and matters important to Che’er: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for being considerate of Che’er."
"Che’er is my son, naturally, I should be considerate of him."
The Emperor gave a few more instructions, essentially asking to ensure that the son is well nourished and for the Empress to be more attentive.
After the Emperor left, the Empress was still in a daze.
She felt that the Emperor had been different these days.
"Your Majesty, the Emperor hasn’t visited the harem for some time now."
The maid’s information was quick and well-accumulated.
Such matters are usually not mentioned, but in necessary times, they would be discussed.
To be a competent maid, one must handle the logistics for the Empress properly.
"Did something happen in the court?"
National affairs are overwhelming, and as a monarch, he naturally wouldn’t dare visit the harem, lest the historians spread rumors.
The Emperor was very astute, knowing how to weigh the pros and cons.
He would not leave any leverage for gossip.
"Nothing happened." The maid’s intelligence was comprehensive, accurate, and timely.
"Understood."
The Empress was momentarily stunned, seemingly gaining a bit of understanding.
Having not visited the harem for many days, and particularly caring for Che’er, she thought of how he only had this one son, with several daughters, and also there’s been over three years without any good news from the concubines, presumably, he had given up struggling.
This man, with advancing age, probably couldn’t have another son, hence decided to cultivate himself?
Or perhaps, his health was failing?
"Ahchoo!"
In Yongle Hall, the Emperor sneezed heavily.
"Your Majesty, shall I summon the Imperial Physician for you?"
Defu, avoiding trouble for the past two days, still couldn’t shirk his duty, so he braced himself to serve.
Fortunately, apart from the Emperor not calling for any consort, everything else remained the same.
He could manage, though he was even more cautious in his service.
"It’s nothing, no need."
The Emperor waved his hand: "You may withdraw, I wish to rest."
The Emperor lay on the dragon bed, unable to sleep for a long time.
These days, his mind constantly wandered back and forth, pondering mostly about the two generations of Doctor Xiao.
His mother always said that since his birth, it was Old Doctor Xiao who checked his pulse for peace, and later, it was the young Doctor Xiao who safeguarded him, a great favor from the Xiao family his mother always remembered.
In the past, when the false pregnancy case involving the Noble Consort implicated Doctor Xiao, his mother insisted on granting the Xiao family mercy, and finally, he compromised by only executing the Xiao physician, exiling the men and sending the women back to their hometown in Shu City.
At that time, he thought he was sparing the Xiao family an escape.
Now, in hindsight, it was himself he spared.
If not for that little girl named Panpan, probably Che’er would have already faced harm.
Moreover, each time the little girl gave Che’er medicine, the Imperial Physician said it was some kind of nourishing supplements, but the ones made by the Imperial Hospital never achieved such effects, indicating the Xiao family had concealed their true knowledge.
Thinking of this, the Emperor sat up straight.
Outside the hall, Defu, always ready, stood up with a start, but dared not make a sound.
He cautiously watched the Emperor inside the hall.